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It prevents chafing of the tarp fabric against the ridgeline. I've seen it argued both ways: one school says that the CRL will help support the tarp against things dropping on it (snow and branches) if run underneath the tarp, while the other says that the CRL won't do much of anything except rub a hole in your tarp fabric so running it overhead is desirable.

With the BMJ, it has doors that can be closed. Since you can run the ridgeline over the tarp, it helps to have that out of the way when you close the doors. At least, that's my assumption, and you know what they say about those...

Personally, I run my ridgeline above the tarp. However, I don't have to worry about snow loading here in Florida, either. YMMV.

I won't try to change your mind on the continuous ridgeline for the tarp, but you'd be hard pressed to damage the pullouts. Warbonnet actually suggests really tugging on the tarp to get a crisp set. I have a WB tarp from 2008 that's been setup, well, a lot! Each time, I tug the bejeebers out of it; still going strong.

I disagree that it needs to be either above or below. Run it where you feel like. We've not actually had reports posted of actual wear from cording under a tarp.

I personally feel the MJ doesn't need a full-length ridgeline. It already has grosgrain binding along the whole seam, that doesn't really stretch. It will hold plenty of tension with just the ends tied out, if you so choose.

Brandon designed the ridge that way both so that it doesn't have to be seam sealed, but also so that there is a maximum amount of pressure put on the fabric itself, limited by the binding.

Hang it how you like, you'll do fine.

“I think that when the lies are all told and forgot the truth will be there yet. It dont move about from place to place and it dont change from time to time. You cant corrupt it any more than you can salt salt.” - Cormac McCarthy

I disagree that it needs to be either above or below. Run it where you feel like. We've not actually had reports posted of actual wear from cording under a tarp.

I personally feel the MJ doesn't need a full-length ridgeline. It already has grosgrain binding along the whole seam, that doesn't really stretch. It will hold plenty of tension with just the ends tied out, if you so choose.

Brandon designed the ridge that way both so that it doesn't have to be seam sealed, but also so that there is a maximum amount of pressure put on the fabric itself, limited by the binding.

Hang it how you like, you'll do fine.

Fair enough. Come to think of it, I don't believe I've ever heard an anecdote that actually supports a hole being rubbed in a tarp. I do believe I've seen an argument that that may happen, though.

I may be misremembering that, though. Goodness knows, my brain likes to fill in the gaps in logic structures without my consent.